Catheter Reprocessing for Coronary Angiography: It is Not Safe.

BACKGROUND: Coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention are frequently and increasingly performed worldwide. Although catheters for coronary angiography are considered as single-use devices, some people still question this decision. This study evaluated the structural characteristics and thermal stability of new and reprocessed catheters. METHODS: Five catheters (Judkins left) of the same brand and manufacturer were selected for each analysis. We evaluated: new catheters, catheters reprocessed once (first), twice (second), thrice (third), and seven times (seventh). The optical analyses of the proximal, middle and distal parts of the catheters were performed by magnifying glass. Besides, thermogravimetric analyses were done. RESULTS: After reprocessing, the crushing, color changes, folds, dents, deformations, and lumen narrowing were observed; the stainless-steel framework, the external tortuosity, the interlaced mesh of stainless-steel wires and loss of polymeric material were visualized. Thermogravimetric analysis showed lost of mass of the catheters. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the structural integrity and mass of catheters are lost with reprocessing. These findings may be caused by several steps of reprocessing; however, regardless of which step or steps were responsible, the presence of structural integrity loss leads to the recommendation of not reusing this type of device.

Reprocessing of Catheters Used for Coronary Angiography and Changes in the Polymeric Structures.

BACKGROUND: Catheters are extensively used for coronary angiographies. These devices are long, thin, and flexible tubes of variable diameters that are made of the following polymer compounds: polyamide, polyurethane and Teflon. The objectives of this study are to identify changes that occur in the polymeric structure of the catheters, including an analysis of microcracks, fissures, cuts, perforations, roughness, and porosity in the internal and external layers after the first, second, third, and seventh reprocessing. METHODS: Five catheters of the same brand and manufacturer were selected for each analysis, except for the new and seventh catheters, which had only one sample. The catheters that we analyzed included new catheters, catheter reprocessed once (1st), catheters reprocessed twice (2nd), catheters reprocessed three times (3rd), and catheters reprocessed up to seven times (7th). Samples were cut into small pieces and the scanning electron microscope and infrared spectroscopy were used for analysis. RESULTS: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of reprocessed catheters revealed rougher surface with porosity, stainless steel wires, peeling of the inner layers, micropores, small holes, disordered cracks, cracks, grooves, microcracks, granular appearance, dots whitish, diffuse microcracks, desquamation, diffuse recesses, depressions, protrusions and deep crevices. Infrared spectroscopy suggested a possible change in the chemical structures of the polymer. There was a directly proportional relationship between the reprocessing number and the carbonyl ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The combined SEM and infrared analyses reveal that reprocessing damages the integrity of coronary angiography catheters. Therefore, the reprocessing of such catheters is not recommended.

Previous physical exercise slows down the complications from experimental diabetes in the calcaneal tendon.

BACKGROUND: the complications caused by diabetes increase fragility in the muscle-tendon system, resulting in degeneration and easier rupture. To avoid this issue, therapies that increase the metabolism of glucose by the body, with physical activity, have been used after the confirmation of diabetes. We evaluate the biomechanical behavior of the calcaneal tendon and the metabolic parameters in rats induced to experimental diabetes and submitted to pre- and post-induction exercise. METHODS: 54-male-Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control Group (CG), Swimming Group (SG), Diabetic Group (DG), and Diabetic Swimming Group (DSG). The trained groups were submitted to swimming exercise, while unexercised groups remained restricted to the cages. Metabolic and biomechanical parameters were assessed. RESULTS: the clinical parameters of DSG showed no change due to exercise protocol. The tendon analysis of the DSG showed increased values for the elastic modulus (p<0.01) and maximum tension (p<0.001) and lowest value for transverse area (p<0.001) when compared to the SG, however it showed no difference when compared to DG. CONCLUSION: the homogeneous values presented by the tendons of the DG and DSG show that physical exercise applied in the pre- and post-induction wasn't enough to promote a protective effect against the tendinopathy process, but prevent the progress of degeneration.

Treino moderado de corrida causa alterações nas propriedades biomecânicas do tendão do calcâneo? / Do moderate running training changes the biomechanical properties of the achilles tendon? / ¿Entrenamiento físico moderado causan cambios en las propiedades biomecánicas del tendón de aquiles?

O efeito do treinamento aeróbio ainda apresenta resultados conflitantes com relação às respostas biomecânicas apresentadas pelo tendão após um período de treinamento aeróbio moderado, como a corrida. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o efeito de um protocolo de corrida de intensidade moderada em esteira sobre as propriedades mecânicas dos tendões do calcâneo de ratos. Para o ensaio mecânico os tendões foram tracionados até o ponto de fracasso do espécime. O treinamento aeróbiode intensidade moderada em ratos não causa alterações nas propriedades biomecânicas do tendão de calcâneo, desta forma, parece não representar risco podendo ser eficaz por não levar o tendão do Calcâneo ao estresse e a fadiga mecânica.

The effect of aerobic training has presented conflicting results regarding the biomechanical responses submitted by the tendon after a period of moderate aerobic training such as running. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a protocol running on a treadmill at moderate intensity on the mechanical properties of the Achilles tendons of rats. For mechanical test the tendons were pulled to the point of failure of the specimen. The moderate-intensity aerobic training in rats does not changes in the biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon, thus, does not seem to pose a risk can be effective for not taking the Achilles tendon to mechanical stress and fatigue.

El efecto de entrenamiento aerobio ha presentado resultados contradictorios respecto a las respuestas biomecánicas presentado por el tendón después de un período de entrenamiento aerobio moderado, como correr. Este estudio pretende evaluar el efecto de un protocolo de correr en una cinta a una intensidad moderada en las propiedades mecánicas de los tendones de Aquiles de las ratas. Para pruebas mecánicas de los tendones se retiraron hasta el punto de fracaso de la muestra. El entrenamiento aerobio de intensidad moderada en las ratas no provoca cambios en las propiedades biomecánicas del tendón de Aquiles, por lo tanto, no parece representar un riesgo puede ser eficaz para no tomar el tendón de Aquiles a la tensión mecánica y la fatiga.

Aerobic physical training restores biomechanical properties of Achilles tendon in rats chemically induced to diabetes mellitus.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study is to evaluate if the application of a moderate aerobic exercise protocol reverses the damage caused by diabetes on the mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon. METHODS: Forty-four rats were divided randomly into four groups as follows: Sedentary Control Group-SCG, Sedentary Diabetic Group-SDG, Trained Control Group-TCG and Trained Diabetic Group-TDG, the trained groups were submitted to a protocol of moderate physical training on a continuous treadmill. For mechanical testing the tendons were fixed in a conventional mechanical testing machine and pulled to the point of failure of the specimen, the cell load of 500N. The parameters were: Elastic Modulus (MPa), Stress Maximum Strength (MPa), Strain Specific Maximum Force (mm), Energy / Tendon Area (N.mm/mm(2)) and Cross-sectional Area (mm(2)). RESULTS: The evaluation of the biomechanical properties of the Achilles tendon of the SDG indicated that the elastic modulus (MPa) is decreased when compared to the TDG and the other groups (p<0.01). However, the specific deformation (%), the deformation at maximum force (mm), and energy / tendon area (N.mm/mm(2)) of the SDG were significantly higher than in the other groups (p<0.01). Moreover, moderate aerobic training on a treadmill caused the biomechanical property values to move closer to the values shown by the control groups (p>0.01). CONCLUSION: In summary, our study indicates that moderate-intensity aerobic training restored the normal mechanical properties of tendons in diabetic animals, since the elastic modulus (MPa), the specific deformation (%), the deformation of the maximum force (mm) and energy / tendon area (N.mm/mm(2)) approached the values shown by the control groups.

Mechanical properties of achilles tendon in rats induced to experimental diabetes.

The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of chemically induced diabetes mellitus (DM) on the mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon of rats and correlate it with metabolic and biomechanical findings. Adult rats were selected randomly and assigned to two groups, the diabetic group consisted of animals receiving a dose of streptozotocin to induce type I diabetes and the control group. The animals were placed in metabolic cages for analysis of metabolism. Ten weeks after diabetes induction, the Achilles tendon of both groups were collected and submitted to a traction test in a conventional testing machine. The measurements of mechanical properties indicated that the elastic modulus (MPa) was significantly higher in the control group (p < 0.01). In Maximum tension (MPa), the groups did not have differences (p > 0.01). Energy/tendon area (N mm/mm²), specific strain (%) and maximum specific strain (mm) were higher in tendon tests of the diabetic group (p < 0.01). We observed that the mechanical properties of tendons have correlations with metabolic properties of the diabetic animals. These results showed that induced DM in rats have an important negative effect on the mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon.